***UPDATED*** Climbers missing following Mont Blanc avalanche
*****UPDATE***** as of 18:32
As of 16h00-17h00 the PGHM (French mountain-rescue police) & the French Interior Minister, Michele Alliot-Marie, who had flown over the scene herself, gave the following press conference:
At around 03h00 a huge avalanche occured on the North face of the Mont Blanc du Tacul. This is a popular route to the Mont Blanc summit and well known to be prone to hazardous falls. The incident swept away several victims. Initially there were 47 climbers presumed missing, though quickly 37 were accounted for. Several vicitims suffered minor injuries, some requiring surgery, and were airlifted to the local hospital.
The rescuers were quickly on the scene, with teams from the PGHM, Italians, CRS (French police), doctors, rescue dogs, as well as some of the mountain professionals who were in the vicinity at the time of the avalanche.
The avalanche was of the slab type, triggered by a serac (ice-block) fall from the glacier above. This isn't an unusual type of danger facing mountaineers. The avalanche's dimensions were 2-300m wide & 1.5-2m thick, which is a huge volume of snow to search through.
There are three types of burial which the rescuers & victims face: immediate burial; being swept by the snow fall into crevasses; and being carried by the avalanche much futher down the mountain. The first 15 minutes of burial are the most crucial for survival.
The fact that the ice-fall was at 3am and that there were climbers involved at that time is not at all unusual. Typically climbers set out to the summit from the Cosmique mountain refuge at a 1am, in order to arrive by dawn.
As of 16h00 this afternoon the search was called off as unstable conditions posed significant danger for those still looking for 10 remaining bodies. Further traces (transceivers & equipment, etc.) of survivors were not in evidence; although rescuers have detected 6-8 anomalies in the snow pack, which could be attributed to ARVA (transceiver) signals, they could equally be massed of ice.
There is a degree of uncertainty as to how many victims may still be missing. At this stage it is uncertain if there were independent groups who were also in the area.
Further, the nationalities and names of those missing cannot yet be wholly ascertained, other than they are believed to be two Swiss and five Austrians, with the others of unknown nationality. The authorities will need to wait for concerned families & friends to call in to report their missing relations, which could take some time. The PGHM can be contacted on +33(0)4.50.53.16.89 if you are concerned.
***** Breaking news release ******
At least ten climbers are missing following an avalanche on Mont Blanc in the early hours of this morning.
The avalanche on the Mont Blanc du Tacul area of Europe's highest mountain was reportedly caused by a block of ice breaking off one of the glaciers. The avalanche measuring 200m by 50m affected at least 18 people.
Five French and three Italian climbers have been transported by helicopter to nearby hospitals including Chamonix's main hospital. At present the 10 climbers missing are believed to be two Swiss and five Austrians with the others of unknown nationality.
The 40+ Italian and French rescuers equipped with helicopters, mountain guides and dogs are searching for the remaining climbers although efforts are hampered by the risk of more avalanches in the same region.
The Mont Blanc du Tacul is on one of the more popular routes to the summit of Mont Blanc where climbers leave Mountain Huts in the early hours to reach the summit by dawn.
